How To Make Custom Kid Costumes

Homemade, custom kids' costumes work well for Halloween or for anytime a child wants to dress up as a favorite character. Children's costumes can be a recognizable character or a character created by the child themselves. Most costumes can be made by an adult with the assistance of a young child. While some costumes require planning and take a considerable amount of time to make, others can be constructed at the last minute. Many costumes use materials that people already own or can purchase easily.

Funny

• Chicken-In-A-Box - Kids can dress up as a chicken with this silly and simple costume. The costume is made by cutting into a cardboard box.
• Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich - Easy-to-follow directions for making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich costume out of foam, fabric, and cellophane.
• Static Cling Costume - Video instructions for making a static cling costume for kids from Better Homes and Gardens.
• Happy Clown - Very simple directions for making a clown costume for a toddler or very young child using pot scrubbers.
• Raining Cats and Dogs Costume - Funny kids costume made by gluing stuffed animals to a colorful umbrella. Instructions are in slideshow format with lots of pictures.

Scary

• Zombie - Kid's zombie costume instructions from Disney Family.
• Red Devil - Instructions for a scary and cute devil costume for kids from Country Living.
• Glow in the Dark Skeleton Costume - Video and written instructions for building a glow-in-the-dark skeleton for kids.
• Mummy Costume - Instructions for a mummy costume using gauze soaked in tea. The instructions are for adults but can be scaled down for kids.

Cute

• Angry Birds - Step-by-step directions with images for making Angry Birds costumes, inspired by the game.
• Skunk - Instructions for an adorable skunk costume made with a feather boa.
• Eggs and Bacon Halloween Costume - Video instructions for making a bacon and eggs costume out of felt. The instructions include information on making the costume smaller for a child to wear. A kid can dress as an egg and their cat or dog can dress as bacon.
• Pirate Costume - Instructions for a cute and quick pirate costume for boys or girls.
• Cookie Costume - Directions with pictures for sewing a cute chocolate chip cookie costume for a young child.

Girls

• Rose Costume - Instructions for making a rose costume for a little girl using a creped paper hat and fabric petals.
• Glittering Tiara and Wand (PDF) - Very easy directions for making a princess tiara and wand out of foam and glitter.
• Weather Gal - Directions for a costume for the girl who wants to be a meteorologist.
• Cheerleader - Simple instructions and video from The Today Show for making a cheerleader's costume. Also includes instructions for several other costumes, such as cotton candy and a football player.

Boys

• Robot Costume - Instructions and video to build a robot costume out of a cardboard box. Includes safety instructions so that kids can make the costume along with an adult's help.
• No-Sew Boy's Costumes - Video from HGTV with easy instructions to make a pirate, prisoner, and other costumes for boys.
• Lego - Easy cardboard Lego block costume. Parents should supervise children, as the box needs to be cut with a sharp craft knife. Kids can paint the Lego any color they like.
• Superhero Costume - Instructions for a generic superhero costume. Boys can create their own superhero.
• Ninja Costume - Kids and parents can make a ninja costume out of a black sweat suit.

Characters From Movies or TV Shows

• Buddy From Dinosaur Train - Includes directions for different sizes and a no-sew option. Parents can download patterns to build the costume. The patterns were created by Jim Henson's Creature Shop.
• Batman and Robin - Very simple instructions for making cheap Batman and Robin costumes at home. The costumes are made out of T-shirts and other materials available around the house.
• Dora the Explorer - Directions for a homemade Dora the Explorer costume for little girls.
• Boo From Monsters, Inc. - Instructions for making a costume for Boo, the cute little monster from the movie Monsters, Inc. Features images and step-by-step directions. The costume involves sewing.